We burn through our livesleaving a tail of glistening, blazing momentsthat don't glisten or blaze 'til we look backWe remain that comet,that heavy rock hurtling through space,and what makes us visibleis already behind us

RENE PAINE

This poem was selected for the 2012 Poetry in Public project, sponsored by the Iowa City Public Art Program. Poetry in Public displays poems by local writers of all ages in Iowa City buses, downtown kiosks, and select public buildings from April (National Poetry Month) through the fall.